Portable Tabletop Cookie Dispenser

The invention relates to a dispenser for discrete commodities.

When a consumer purchases loose cookies, the usual procedure is for the consumer to tell a clerk what type and quantity of cookies are desired. Although this is inconvenient in a busy store, placing of the cookies in an open container for self-service by consumers is undesirable for sanitary reasons. Furthermore, this would result in substantial waste due to breakage.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a dispenser which allows discrete commodities, e.g., loose cookies, to be dispensed in a sanitary manner.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dispenser which enables breakage to be reduced.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a method which makes it possible to dispense discrete commodities sanitarily.

A further object of the invention is to provide a dispensing method which can be used to reduce breakage.

The preceding objects, as well as others which will become apparent as the description proceeds, are achieved by the invention.

One aspect of the invention resides in a dispenser for discrete commodities. The dispenser comprises, in combination, a container having an outlet and defining a storage chamber for the commodities, a screw conveyor in the chamber arranged to advance the commodities towards the outlet, and means for driving the screw conveyor.

Since the commodities are discharged from the container using a screw conveyor, it is not necessary for consumers to place their hands in the container so that the commodities can be dispensed in a sanitary fashion. Moreover, inasmuch as there is no need for consumers to put their hands into the container, the likelihood of breakage is reduced.

Another aspect of the invention resides in a method of dispensing a commodity from a container. The method comprises the steps of admitting the commodity into a predetermined path, advancing the commodity along the path by repeatedly subjecting the commodity to forces having a first component longitudinally of the path and a second component radially of the path, and discharging the commodity from the container at a predetermined location of the path.

The path may have a section upstream of and remote from the location at which the commodity is discharged from the container and the commodity is preferably fed to this section for introduction into the path. The step of discharging the commodity from the container can be carried out using gravity.

Additional features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a dispenser in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view in the direction of the arrows II--II of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a sectional view in the direction of the arrows III--III of FIG. 2.

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, a dispenser is generally identified by the reference numeral 1. The dispenser 1 includes a container 2 having a front wall 2a, a rear wall 2b, side walls 2c, a bottom wall 2d and a lid 2e. The lid 2e is pivotally mounted on the front wall 2a by means of a pair of hinges 3. The rear wall 2b of the container 2 carries a tongue 4 which projects rearward from the rear wall 2b while the rear end of the lid 2e supports a latch 5 which is pivotable up-and-down about a horizontal axis. The latch 5 is provided with a slot and, when the lid 2e is closed and the latch 5 is pivoted downwards, the tongue 4 is received in the slot so as to arrest the lid 2e and prevent it from being opened.

The container 2 defines a storage chamber 6 for discrete commodities 7 to be dispensed by the dispenser 1. The commodities 7 are here individual unpackaged cookies. The chamber 6 can be stocked with cookies 7 by releasing the latch 5 and lifting the lid 2e.

Two partitions 8 are mounted on the bottom wall 2d of the container 2 and project upward into the chamber 6. The partitions 8, which are short in comparison to the container walls 2a,2b,2c, are spaced from one another laterally of the container 2 and extend from the container front wall 2a to the container rear wall 2b. The partitions 8 define a trough 9 which is centered between the container side walls 2c. A discharge chute or outlet 10 for the cookies 7 opens to the trough 9 near the container front wall 2a.

A funnel 11 is situated above the trough 9 and serves to direct the cookies 7 in the chamber 6 to a rear section of the trough 9, that is, a section of the trough 9 remote from the discharge chute 10. The funnel 11 includes a forward guide wall 11a and two lateral guide walls 11b. The forward guide wall 11a is inclined downward from the container front wall 2a to the partitions 8 while each of the lateral guide walls 11b is inclined downward from a respective container side wall 2c to the nearest partition 8.

A screw conveyor 12 is located in the trough 9 and extends from the container front wall 2a to the container rear wall 2b. The container front wall 2a has an opening 13 in line with the longitudinal axis of the screw conveyor 12, and the screw conveyor 12 can be withdrawn from and inserted in the trough 9 via the opening 13. A closure or cover 14 is provided for the opening 13 and is releasably connected to the container front wall 2a by screws or other suitable fasteners 15.

The screw conveyor 12 has a rear end portion 12b which is rotatably supported by a bearing 16 mounted on the container rear wall 2b. The screw conveyor 12 further has a front end portion 12a which passes through the opening 13 and an aligned passage in the cover 14. The front end portion 12a of the screw conveyor 12 is connected to a handwheel 17 disposed outward of and adjacent to the cover 14. The handwheel 17, which drives the screw conveyor 12 in rotation, is provided with a pair of handles 18 to facilitate manual operation of the handwheel 17.

The container 2 is preferably transparent. This not only allows a consumer to view the contents of the container 2 but provides an element of interest since the consumer can observe the dispensing process.

The dimensions of the dispenser 1 are advantageously such that the dispenser 1 can be set on a tabletop or counter top. Moreover, it is preferred for the dispenser 1 to be constructed of lightweight materials so that the dispenser 1 is portable, i.e., capable of being carried by an individual.

The placement of the arresting tongue 4 at the end of the dispenser 1 opposite the handwheel 17 and discharge chute 10 has at least two advantages. On the one hand, it makes it difficult for a consumer to lift the lid 2e and gain access to the storage chamber 6. On the other hand, such placement affords a clerk or other authorized person standing behind a tabletop or counter top easy access to the chamber 6 for the purpose of stocking or cleaning the chamber 6.

In operation, the container 2 is stocked with cookies 7 by lifting the lid 2e and placing the cookies 7 in the storage chamber 6. The cookies 7 descend under the action of gravity and are guided into the rear section of the trough 9 by the funnel 11.

The trough 9 defines a path of travel for the cookies 7 and such path extends from the container rear wall 2b to the container front wall 2a. The cookies 7 travel along the path in a direction from the container rear wall 2b towards the container front wall 2a so that the rear section of the trough 9 constitutes an upstream section of the path and the discharge chute 10 is located in a downstream section of the path.

When a consumer wishes to dispense cookies 7 from the container 2, the consumer rotates the handwheel 17 in the direction indicated by the arrows A. The screw conveyor 12 rotates in response to rotation of the handwheel 17 and urges cookies 7 which have descended into the trough 9 away from the container rear wall 2b, and towards the container front wall 2a, along the path defined by the trough 9. As the screw conveyor 12 rotates, each cookie 7 in the trough 9 is repeatedly impacted by forces having a first component in downstream longitudinal direction of the path defined by the trough 9 and a second component radially of the path. Upon reaching the discharge chute 10, the cookies 7 fall out of the container 2 by gravity into the hands of the consumer or into a box or bag held by the consumer.

Various modifications are possible within the meaning and range of equivalence of the appended claims.